BRADFORD Catholic Girls' Choir is looking to build on its year of global success by continuing to take to the world stage.

The group face a tough act to beat their achievements of 2014, after they bagged a bronze medal double at the World Choir Games in Latvia.

They were one of only three UK choirs participating, with 460 choirs from 73 countries and more than 27,000 singers in action.

Their bronze medals came in both the 'Sacred Music with accompaniment' and 'Youth choirs of equal voices' sections.

Other highlights of their year included taking part in six national BBC broadcasts, such as the Easter Day Songs of Praise on BBC One. They also recorded the choral soundtrack for London Fields, a thriller starring Billy Bob Thornton and Amber Heard.

Meanwhile, their first major competition of the new year will see the girls take part in the youth choir section of the Manchester Amateur Choral Competition in February.

Then, in March, they will record two BBC Radio 4 broadcasts.

This will be followed by them taking part in the Llangollen International Eisteddfodd competition in North Wales in July.

Here, they will be competing in the Children's Choir of the World competition, against some of the world's top singing groups. The girls will also record a CD in the summer.

Tom Leech, director of the Bradford Catholic Girls' Choir, said: "We might struggle to match 2014.

"This has been an amazing year, where we've had the chance to represent Bradford on a world stage, take part in some great projects and work alongside internationally-renowned musicians.

"We're hoping to build on the success of 2014.

"The Llangollen event is a really big international thing. It's one of the big competitions. Some of the biggest choirs from across the world will be there.

"I've really seen our talented young singers grow in confidence and ability, their cultural horizons have greatly increased, and we've hopefully had a lot of fun along the way.

"The absolute highlight of 2014 has got to be our tour to Latvia in July, where the choir gave a concert for the British Ambassador and had a wonderful time soaking up the Olympic spirit of the games.

"Singing at this level really does make a difference to children's lives, aside from the musical and vocal skills they learn about commitment."

The Bradford Catholic Girls' Choir, which rehearses weekly at St Joseph's Catholic College, Cunliffe Road, Bradford is part of the Diocese of Leeds Schools Singing Programme, the largest choral programme in the country which works with around 2,500 children each week.

It was formed in 2006 and has 35 members of girls aged between 11 and 18 from Keighley and Bradford schools.